Kensington LD5400T review: Thunderbolt 3 computer docking station, with a focus on security
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Ready upwards a workstationKensington LD5400T review: Thunderbolt 3 computer docking station, with a focus on security
The LD5400T delivers 85W of laptop charging ability, strong security features, and eight ports. 
There are countless products on the marketplace that aggrandize your laptop's connectivity — including dongles, adapters, and hubs — and y'all tin find some relatively cheap options for casual utilise. However, to turn your laptop into a truly grounded workstation, a dock is your best bet. Kensington'due south LD5400T is a Thunderbolt iii docking station that delivers a variety of ports, upwardly to 85W of charging, and some serious security to ensure your laptop doesn't walk off without you. I used it for about a week to see what it'due south all nearly and to make up one's mind whether or non it'southward worth the asking price.
Secure Thunderbolt 3 dock
Kensington LD5400T
$350
Bottom line: It'southward relatively big and bulky, simply the LD5400T combines strong security, ease of employ, generous port option, and laptop charging into ane impressive parcel.
Pros
- High-quality construction
- Up to 85W charging
- Plenty of ports
- Keeps your laptop secure
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- No HDMI port
- No SD card reader
What you'll love about the Kensington LD5400T
The Kensington LD5400T is made of aluminum and plastic, and it'south quite a bit larger and heavier than other Thunderbolt three docking stations nosotros've tested out. This is a device meant to sit down for most of its life on a desk, then don't plan on taking information technology with y'all equally a travel companion. It'south patently congenital well from quality material, which is exactly what you want to run into from something that has your laptop's security in mind.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Ports | Iv USB-A 3.0 Ii Thunderbolt 3 (ane for host PC) DisplayPort ane.2 RJ45 Ethernet three.5mm sound Kensington lock slot |
| Max display resolution | 5120 ten 2880 @ 60Hz (unmarried) 4096 10 2160 @ 60Hz (dual) |
| Os | Windows 10 macOS 10.xiii or later |
An aluminum plate runs forth the top of the dock and extends out to a ledge on which your laptop sits. Condom pads coat the portions of aluminum your laptop touches to reduce sliding and scratching, and the adjustable arms on either side also have a rubber coating where they touch on the laptop. The arms are opened with a "G-Fox," a small-scale plastic play a trick on that is recognized only by your dock. With the dock plugged into AC ability, you just wave the fob next to the right arm to have both sides open up automatically thanks to an internal motor. The artillery are made of plastic, but they're thick and strong plenty that no one is going to curve one back to free the laptop.
The arms close with a scrap of pressure, clicking audibly past lock spots that tin can't exist reopened without a fob. I had no problem securely fitting my fifteen-inch laptop, and Kensington claims it should also work with devices as small equally 11 inches. This is strictly a Thunderbolt three dock, and so if your laptop doesn't have 1 of these ports, y'all'll no doubt want to expect elsewhere.
Kensington's LD5400T is an able docking station that doubles as a guardian for your laptop.
In one case the laptop is seated and the arms secured, yous plug information technology in with an included Thunderbolt iii cable to get access to the dock'south collection of ports and up to 85W of charging. That'south enough power to continue almost Ultrabooks topped upwards, removing the need to take hold of your laptop'due south AC adapter when you need to practise a bit of piece of work away from your desk.
The LD5400T brings a full of eight ports (not including the host Thunderbolt 3) you can use when plugged in, enabling a secure workstation feel. Ports include RJ45 Ethernet, four USB-A 3.0, secondary Thunderbolt three, three.5 mm sound, and DisplayPort 1.2. Those of you lot with loftier-resolution ambitions tin connect upward to a single 5K display and get a 60Hz refresh rate, or dual 4K displays besides at a 60Hz refresh charge per unit. All ports are spaced well enough that in that location should be minimal congestion, and cables can easily run off the dorsum of your desk for a cleaner await.
The laptop is securely fastened to the dock with the extendable arms, but what keeps the dock from walking off when you're not around? On the dorsum panel among the ports is a standard Kensington lock slot that works with any desk-bound's built-in cable, below the rubber padding on the aluminum ledge are two spiral holes for permanently attaching the dock to a desk-bound, and on the left side of the dock is a hookup for an included vi-pes tether cablevision that can wrap effectually substantially annihilation. While these probably aren't completely tamper-proof — except perchance for screwing the dock into the desk-bound — they make strong deterrents for any would-be thieves.
What you'll dislike about the Kensington LD5400T
I used the Kensington LD5400T for nigh a week, and at that place are actually only 2 things I wish it had to make it more attainable for most people. DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 are certainly the more modern video port options, but an HDMI port would be very welcome, especially in an office setting. The other feature I missed was an SD card reader, which is a popular addition to docks now that most Ultrabooks have gone to microSD or nothing at all.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that because of the way the arms hold the laptop in place, it's impossible to shut the laptop's chapeau when information technology'south securely attached to the dock. This isn't going to injure your laptop — you lot can put it to sleep or power it off at the end of the day — just it volition collect dust on the inside a lot faster than if you closed it up overnight.
Should you purchase the Kensington LD5400T?
The Kensington LD5400T is an impressive Thunderbolt 3 dock that focuses on keeping your laptop on your desk while likewise broadening port choice and charging with up to 85W of power. It's large and heavy, merely it's meant to exist seated on a desk and attached down rather than carried around. It's easy to use — just wave a fob to automatically open the arms — and I saw no performance bug even with myriad accessories and peripherals connected.
You have a few options for securing the dock itself, from semi-permanent tether cables to permanent screws, and all ports run off the back of the dock to easier hide the connected cables. Although it would exist prissy to see an SD card reader and an HDMI port, the viii ports on offer hither are enough to set a satisfying workstation.
If you lot're not equally keen on the security that the LD5400T offers and prefer something smaller, you might want to check out the CalDigit TS3 Plus, which is our pinnacle option when information technology comes to Thunderbolt three docks. Withal, if you are in the market for a dock that doubles as a guardian for your laptop, the LD5400T is an awesome choice.
Secure Thunderbolt iii dock
Kensington LD5400T
A docking station that keeps your laptop where you lot left information technology
With upward to 85W of charging power back to the host laptop, viii full ports, dual 4K display support, and robust security features that are like shooting fish in a barrel to use, the Kensington LD5400T is a corking choice for anyone who wants to residue easier knowing their laptop is safe on their desk.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/kensington-ld5400t-review
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